Textbook of Podiatric Medicine

Book excerpt: Globally, podiatric medicine has evolved significantly in both its depth and scope of practice. Continual innovation and a dynamic response to the call for evidence-based practice have led to a rapid revolution in podiatric education, research and practice. Podiatry plays a pivotal role in the early assessment, diagnosis and management of lower limb pathologies as well as in the detection and monitoring of long-term conditions. The time dedicated to podiatric consultation provides an opportunity for dialogue and interaction which places the profession at the heart of public health education. Having a unique role in patient care, podiatrists gain a particular insight into the holistic lives of their patients, and are therefore highly valued members of the extended multidisciplinary team in both primary and secondary care. Podiatric medicine is based on the cognitive and applied understanding of anatomy, physiology, biomedical, psychosocial and physical sciences. Consequently, podiatrists are now able to offer care encompassing a diverse range of diagnostic skills and management strategies. Since comorbidities, polypharmacy and ambulatory wellbeing issues present across all ages, podiatrists need to maintain the health of increasing numbers of patients who present with complex medical conditions. All these professional developments have led to a need for specialist textbooks reflecting the enhanced role of podiatrists in the wider context of health and wellbeing. This landmark publication offers a single source of reference for the structural and functional capacity of all major body systems. It also provides an insight into the social complexities of working with patients, their families and carers in everyday clinical practice. In adopting this holistic approach to patient care, this text is the first in the discipline to integrate sociological perspectives, public health education and the complexities of mental illness with traditional chapters on human anatomy and physiology. Edited and authored by an international team of experts on podiatric medicine, science and health, and utilising the latest research, this comprehensive textbook is destined to become a seminal text for the next generation of podiatrists, both as students and as healthcare professionals.